Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-06

Gen. Meigs Announces the Completion
OF the New Pension Bulldiny-Eive
Years In Building and the Total Cost
nearly $500, 600.

Gen. Meigs Announces the Completion
OF the New Pension Building-Kfve
Years In Building and the Total Cost
nearly 100000.
Cen N. C. Meigs, the supervising architect and
engineer OF the new Pension Building, has made
his annual report to the Secretary OF the Intsror
OF the progress Of the work OF the completion or
Tails building, the main features Of which have
been published In THE STAR in the shape Of alb
stracts from his monthly reports. Gen. Meigs re-
cords the completion OF the rooms in the fourth
story for use as record rooms, provided by Con-
gess He states that the portion Of the roof nearest
the cerestory walls upon which the snow slides fall
during the winter, has been covered with second
course OF tiles to protect the roof from being
broken. It is also intended to construct plank
walk around the superstructure for use OF the men
Who who daily walk around the walls 70 open and
great hall and the whole building is ventilated
II appears on trial, continues the report, that
surface OF the tile sheathing, and fall OF pla ter
rom the roof OF the balls at height OF over 100
rect rect would be dangerous. Papering section OF
months the paper peeled on the tiles Finally It
has been determined to line this ceiling with light
wo %
Ine report states that the cost OF the tile oortng
for the noor and the galleries was 10000.
AN ELEVATED RAILROAD.
The labor Of handling and transporting about
the building, whose galleries have development
OF two-thirds OF mile, and whose record.room
floor is sxty-two feet above the door OF its hall
continues the report made necessary some pro-
vision for this work. Elevated rail tracks are
used In work shops and rolling mills. Upon these
rails trOlleyS on wheels travel TO these baskets
each containing about I25 pounds OF folded docu-
mentS, are hung. In this way the great mass
and weight OF papers, daily moved to and from
I1e record rooms, are transported from the doors
OF the clerks rooms in which they are made up to
corner OF the hall through this elevator they
are sent to the record rooms to any other floor
OF me building The iron rails and great part
now in the building, and they are being rapidly
put in place, supported by brackets attached to
the walls or ceilings OF the galleries.
THE HEATING OF THE BUILDING.
In speaking of the heating Of the building Gen.
Meigs states that on the coolest days OF last
winter the thermometers in the four galleries Of
the hall were between 81 degrees and e9h degrees.
The whole space heated excluding the cellar Is
$1,000 cubic feet. The consumption Of coal
has been about 700 TONS pc. year. fhis not only
heats the building ne says, but pumus through O
pressure tank In the roof It's daily supply OF
Water. He adds tnaG the building is
NOW SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED.
1t has been occupied tor over two years in an
unfinished condition He expresses the belief that
Its continued use will justify the theory OF its
design and construction. No dark, iIl-ventilated
corridors, he continues depreciate the health OF
those who WORK III it or depress their spirits.
Every working room Is lighted from windows on
TWO sides. There Is not dark corner III the build
Ing. He adds that the work still to be completed
as referred to above Is now In progress He
says that no provision has been made for
HYDRAULIC elevators and suggests that Two he pro-
vided.
The total amount eX endel in the building
since tne first appropr1i- e.. AUGUST z, 1882, Is
$SS66l404. THIS re pre- eats lne total cost OF the
building as now completed.